4 Tips to Improve Assisted Living Facility Visits

When someone you care about such as a parent or grandparent lives in an assisted living facility in Oyster Bay, knowing how often to visit them and what to do to ensure a pleasant visit for them and for you can be tough. If you’re bringing your children along, no matter what age they are, it can be uncomfortable for them as well. Here are a few tips to make your future visits successful and fun.

Keep the Connection Alive

Although it may be uncomfortable for younger kids who perhaps don’t know the older adult very well, keeping seniors in assisted living connected with their family members, even those who are very young, is deeply meaningful. Arrange video chats with family members who maybe live too far away to visit in person. The key here is to make sure that your aging parent or grandparent feels connected to and loved by their family.

Listen to Some Music

Music has a way of building connections and strengthening bonds between people. It can also improve brain and memory function. If you have a parent or grandparent in an assisted living facility or a memory care facility, bringing music from bygone eras in their lives can help them remember significant moments in their lives while drawing the two of you closer together.

Reminisce Over Old Photos

If you have old photos or videos of your aging adult, bring them with you and talk about what they remember about the photo. Who’s in the picture or video? What do they remember about the person? Showing photos and videos can encourage great conversation and can help your loved one feel more connected and aware.

Bring a Four-Legged Friend

Studies have shown that petting a dog or a cat is highly therapeutic. Consider bringing in a pet the next time you visit. If your elderly adult loves animals, they will likely be over the moon about it. There are a lot of mental and physical health benefits to stroking a dog or a cat, so you would be helping them both physically and emotionally.

Even if you have an elderly parent or grandparent in a memory care unit in Oyster Bay, NY, having visitors will still brighten their day even if they aren’t able to interact much with you or recall the visit later. The older adults in your life need to be remembered and appreciated and making the most of your visits with them will go a long way to help them feel loved.